Dehydrator



999129, 1991. o@ G. BURTN r 9,999,999

DEHYDRATOR Filed Nov. 28, 1959 2 sheets-Sheet 1 /4 -4/,2 Z ".1 l Q pril 29, 1941. o. G. BURToN 2339,99

DEHYDRATOR Filed Nov. 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr.. 29, 94l

stares earner orgies 2,239,990 nnnynnar'on Oral Glenn Burton, Marion, Ind.

Application November 28, 1939, Serial No. 306,555

(Cl. 18S-75) 5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dehydrator devices and pertains particularly to an improved device for effecting the removal of iiuid and solid particles from air, steam or other gases. The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved dehydrator which is vconstructed to operate upon a novel principle whereby the effective removal of moisture or foreign matter from air or other gases is obtained, the operation of the device being based upon the establishment within a separator receptacle of a differential pressure between the inlet for the gas and the outlet therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dehydrator or separator of the character stated wherein a two-stage action is carried out, the rst stage of operation employing a mechanical means for separating fluid from the gas and the second stage depending upon the establishment of a back pressure at the outlet for the gas whereby other particles which may be borne by the gas will be made to settle back in the receptacle through gravitational action.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel indicator means in association with a dehydrator or separator of the character stated whereby the operator of the device may readily ascertain the frequency with which the device fills up and discharges so that the necessary indication will be given of the extent to which insulation of pipe lines carrying the gas going to the separator may be carried out for the control of condensation in the lines.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims,

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the structure embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the huid gauge.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I generally designates the base of the present dehydrator or separator device. The device may be of any desired cross sectional design, either circular, rectangular or any other CFI polygonal form, but is here illustrated as being of circular form and the base therefor has the upstanding side Wall 2 in the form of a cylinder, the top of which carries the laterally extending encircling flange 3 in the top face of which is an annular channel d. Outwardly of the channel 6I theilange is provided with apertures 5 for the reception of certain tie rods hereinafter described. Extending transversely of the lower part of the base I is a bottom wall 6.

Formed through the side Wall 2 of the base adjacent the top thereof is a suitable opening to receive an inlet tube or a nipple l with which is connected a suitable pipe line carrying the air,

steam or other gas which is to be treated to have moisture and other foreign matter removed therefrom. Directly opposite the inlet 'I within the base there is formed a sleeve 8 in which is connected an end of a tube 9 which extends diametrically across the base and is axially alined with the inlet nipple 1. The end of the tube adjacent the nipple l is outwardly flared or in the form of a bell I0 and the inner end of the nipple I extends into this bell in the manner shown.

`Adjacent the end of the tube 9 remote from the opening I2 through which extends one end of a tubular casing I3, this casing being provided between its ends with an encircling plate I 4 which positions against the wall 2 and is secured thereto by screws I5. Suitable gaskets may-be placed between the plate I4 and the wall 2 to prevent leakage of fluid from the base of the structure. The inner end of the casing I3 opens directly into the lower part of the base structure I while the outer end of this casing terminates in the upwardly directed tubular guide portion I which is closed by the cap Il threaded onto the upper end of the guide in the manner illustrated. The central part of the cap Il has a downwardly directed valve stem guide sleeve I3 in which is engaged the upper end of the stem I9 of a vertically reciprocable outlet valve 20.

The valve 2i! rests upon a seat 2I which is formed coaxial with a discharge opening 22 and this opening leads into the discharge nipple vv23 with which a suitable carry-olf pipe may be connected. The discharge nipple 23 is formed integrally with the casing i3, as shown, and ther-e is also integrally formed in alinement with the opening 22, the downwardly extending closed lower guide 24 for the lower end of the valve stem I9.

The valve stem I9 carries a collar 25 just below its upper end and this collar has bearing thereagainst the lower end of an expansion spring 2t which encircles the upper guide sleeve I3 which is carried by and forms a part of the cap Il. Y upper end of the spring bears against the cap I'I as shown, and the spring, therefore, functions to maintain the valve 2l seated under normal conditions. c

Below the collar 25 the valve sternl!) ca-rries a pin 2l and connected with this pin is one end of a linkage system which is made up of a lever 2B pivotallysupported intermediate its ends on a horizontal pivot vpinZS! extending transversely of the vchasing i3 anda second lever 3i] pivotally supported intermediate'its ends on ya transverse pivot pin Si. I'helever Ztihas a, fork 32 loosely engaging the valve pin 2l and at the opposite end from -Lhis fork it carries a transverse coupling pin 33 Vw ch in4 turn is engaged by a fork 34 which is `carried at the end of the adjacent lever 38. The other end of this lever 30 is coupled by an obliquely vextending arnr35 with a float 36.

The numeralV 31 designates the wall of the chamber, This wall may be formed of glass, metal or any other suitable material, glass being preferred, and it is in the form of a vertically disposed cylinder, the lower edge of which rests in the annular lchannel 4 formed in the top of the base flange 3. Y

Upon the top of the cylindrical wall 37 is supported a head which is indicated generally by the numeral 38 and which comprises an annular plate 39 having in its under face an annular channel 5 for the reception of the top edge of the wall 3l.V Outwardly vof this channel 4t the plate 39 is provided with apertures 4| and these apertures receive the upper ends of tie rods 42, the lower ends of which rods engage in the aperture 5 of the flange 3. Y The rods are provided at their upper and lower ends with the securing nuts 43 which bear against the under side of the flange and against, the top of the plate 39 to draw the Y plateand wall body 37 securely together and to draw the wall body'tightly down into the channel t. Suitable packing or gaskets are employed in the channels 4 and di), as indicated at V415, to preventleakage of the body or casing of the device.

The head 38 in addition to the plate 39 includes a central hollow upwardly extending and upwardly tapering chamber d5. Near the top of this tapering chamber portion of the head, a threaded aperture i6 is formed in which is connected the gas outlet nipple 4l, the outer end of which is suitably threaded for connection therewith `of a lead-off pipe for the gas. The inner end of this gas lead-oir nipple 4l is constructed or reduced to form the relatively small inlet orifice t3 and a particularly important feature of the present invention is that this orifice 158 may Ybe of materially smaller cross sectional area than that of the inlet nipple l.

The wall 3l of the gas chamber has been described as being preferably of glass and when constructed of this material, this wall will have formed vertically of the lower portion thereof a vertical'scale i9 which is graduated in inches or fractions thereof or in any otherdesired orsuitable TheV manner. Of course, where the gas cylinder wall 3l may be formed of an opaque material, this scale would have to be in the form of a transparent window.

The float 36 carries a vertical indicator arm 50 which at its upper end is turned to extend toward the scale i9 and shaped to provide the terminal pointer 5l which is in relatively close proximity to the scale so that its elevation may be determined with relation to the scale when looking through the wall of the gas chamber. This pointer cooperating with the scale indicates the height of uicl in the base of the separator and provides a convenient means for determining the frequency with which the separator lls and discharges.

In the operation of the present dehydrator device, Aair, steam'or other gas is introduced under pressure through the inlet nipple l and flows from this nipple into the tube 9 which may be referred to as the breaker tube. fis-previously stated, the gas after entering the tube 9 ilows therefrom downwardly through the apertures ll as a result of which all moisture whichrnay Ybe,carriedloy the gas is sent dovfnwardlyand will be deposited in the base Only the lighter particles of matter vwhich the gas may be carrying will rise in the chamber with the gas.U YAs these particles enter the` upwardly constricted chamber 45 in the head of the separator, some back pressure will be encountered and this back pressure will be increased as the particles and gas approach the restricted outletorice 48 of theroutlet nipple 4l. This checking of the flow of the gas and of the movement of the particles which the gas may be carrying will result in the settling or precipitation of the particles and they will glfa'dually fall back into the lower part or base l of the structure.

As the collected water risesk in the base,'the float 36 will be raised, also,the indicator or pointer 5i will move upwardly along the scalelil and as the float reaches the'limitof its upward Inovement, it will oscillate the lever 3i) with which it is directly connected to cause a depression upon the adjacent end of the lever `28y witha correspondingraising of the otherend of this lever against the resistance of spring` 26 with the final result that the valvev20 will beuopenedand the water discharged through 'the outlet or discharge nipple 23. After the discharge has occurred, the spring Zliwll again seat the valve and through the medium of the linked levers, will move the float downwardlyto its Alowermostuposition and also lower thepointer. Oi course',this downward movement of the ioat willbe assisted bygravity, but the employment of the spring insures the positive and firm seating of theva1ve2 and also a more rapid lowering of the float.

By the use of the device herein described, vcondensation from a steam line maybe readily removed and returned to a boiler injector at a relatively high temperature 'so tiiatfth'e device 'may be satisfactorily employed in connection with steam generating systems and will operate in this connection as a-fuel saver.

Bythe use of the graduatedV scale in association with the float carried point, means is provided Whereby a check may be kept upon the amount of condensation that is taking piace in the pipe lines in which the device is employed, thus showing the 'operator of such vlines how much power may saved after properly insulating the lines and making other necessary corrections or adjustments therein,

What is claimed is:

1. A separator structure of the character described, comprising a body providing a gas chamber, the lower portion of said body being constructed and arranged to provide a fluid collection receptacle having a drain outlet, an inlet for said body at the upper part of said receptacle, a gas outlet in the upper part of the chamber, means connected with the said inlet for deecting introduced gas downwardly into the recep tacle wherein moisture in the introduced gas will be directly condensed and collected, and means forming a part of the outlet providing a restricted mouth opening into the outlet, the opening of which mouth has an area interiorly smaller than the area of the inlet to effect the retarding of the flow of gas from the chamber as a result of which settlement of heavier particles carried by the gases will be eiiected.

2. A separator structure of the character described, comprising a body providing a gas chamber, the lower portion of said body being constructed and arranged to provide a iiud collection receptacle having a drain outlet, an inlet for said body at the upper part of said receptacle, a gas outlet tube leading from upper part of the chamber, means connected with the said inlet for deiiecting introduced gas downwardly into the receptacle wherein moisture in the introduced gas will be directly condensed and collected, and means for retarding the iiow of gas to aid in eiecting the settlement of heavier particles carried by the gas flowing from` said inlet to the outlet in the upper part of the chamber, comprising a restricted mouth forming the inlet end of said tube, the area of which mouth is considerably less than the area of the inlet through which gas is introduced under pressure into the chamber.

3. A device for separating moisture and heavy particles from` gases, comprising a body forming a gas chamber, means forming a part of the lower portion of said body providing a fluid collection receptacle having a drain outlet, means in th-e lower part of the chamber for the introduction of gas thereinto, a tube extending across the lower part of the chamber and having one end arranged to receive the introduced gas, said tube being provided with a plurality of discharge apertures directed downwardly into the receptacle, and a gas outlet for the upper part of the chamber having a restricted inlet orice which has a cross sectional area materially less than the area of the gas inlet whereby gas introduced under pressure at said inlet will be subjected to a back pressure in the upper part of the chamber at the outlet orifice.

4. A device for separating moisture and heavy particles from air, steam and other gases, comprising a gas receiving chamber, means forming a portion of the lower part of the chamber providing a liquid collecting receptacle having a drain outlet, a gas inlet orifice at the upper part of said receptacle, means within the chamber for receiving gas introduced through said orice and for effecting removal of moisture therefrom, said gas chamber having a head provided with an upwardly tapering chambered portion, and a gas outlet nipple in the constricted upper part of the chambered portion of the head having an inlet orifice at its inner end which has a cross-sectional area materially less than the area of the gas inlet orifice.

5. A device of the character stated for separating moisture and solid particles from air, steam and other gases, comprising a base unit having a bottom and an upstanding Wall, a vertical wall supported upon the base, a head joined to the upper part of said vertical wall and formed to provide an upwardly tapering chamber, said base forming a liquid receptacle and said vertical wall providing a gas chamber above the receptacle, means for introducing a gas into the lower part of the gas chamber, a tube extending across the upper part of the receptacle and closed at one end and having its other end spaced from the gas introducing means and arranged to receive introduced gas, said tube having a plurality of downwardly directed apertures remote from the end into which the gas is introduced, and a gas outlet nipple in the restricted top of said head and having its inner end constricted to form an inlet orice, the cross sectional area of which is materially less than the area of the gas inlet means.

ORAL GLENN BURTON. 

